Sharjah: The Supreme Organising Committee (SOC) of the fourth edition of the Arab Women’s Sports Tournament (AWST), which gets underway from Feb. 2-12, 2018, has announced its plan to implement green strategies at the competition, with its aim to contribute to protecting the environment through innovative technologies.

SOC’s plan for the event - which is the largest of its kind in the region - is to deploy modern environment-friendly solutions for its operations. The aim is to ensure that AWST 2018 is ecologically sound in its practices and that it takes into consideration the highest standards of sustainability.

The strategic plan will see the SOC cooperate with the Bee’ah Sharjah Environment Company (Bee’ah), the UAE’s leading integrated environmental and waste management company.

The organisation will distribute special waste and paper containers to all AWST amenities, while Sharjah Municipality will supervise and ensure the hygiene of the tournament’s sport facilities, and organise a series of workshops and awareness programs to engage audiences on ways to contribute to the sustainability of their environment.

The SOC intends to use smart monitors to show advertisements and daily match timetables throughout the event instead of paper flyers. It will also deploy green transportation, including bicycles fully equipped with safety requirements, to facilitate access to different venues, thereby minimising harmful carbon dioxide emissions. The committee will also use recyclable paper in the few leaflets that it does intend to print.

Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Head of the AWST Executive Committee and Director General of Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation, said: “AWST’s strategy aligns with the UAE’s efforts to commit to international agreements and conventions on preserving the environment and climate.”